Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Bigger and Better
* Scripture: Jesus said, "But many who are first will be last, and the last first." (Matt. 19:30)

Bigger is better! At least in the realm of fruits and vegetables. Everybody wants the prize-winner, the largest variety possible. The seed catalogues cash in on this tendency by showing pictures of a child with a giant pumpkin, so big that she can sit upon it. Maybe it is the dinner-plate sized dahlia that catches the eye of the flower aficionado. The most widely sought treasure of bigness, though, is probably the tomato.
I have read that the tomato is possibly the most widely grown of a things garden. It may be the only edible produce in the garden, tucked into a small bed, staked and trained to take up the least space possible. But BIG! Tomatoes have to be big. Large enough that one slice fills a sandwich. In fact, some of the most popular varieties have big in the name - Big Boy, or even Better Boy.
Big isn't everything, though. The smallest among the tomato family is a tough little rascal, a real survivor. Year after year, I find volunteer cherry tomatoes coming up where they grew the previous year. The seeds endure freezing winter temperatures and otherwise harsh treatment to grow and prosper.
The rich young man probably enjoyed all that society had to offer, and sought to cap it by obtaining eternal life. How had he prepared? He tells Jesus that he had kept all the commandments. Commendable, Jesus said, but sell all that you have, and give to the poor. "Come, follow me." (Mt. 19:21b)
If the rich, who have seemingly been rewarded monetarily as a result of their righteousness, can't make it into heaven, who can be saved?
There are several instances in the New Testament records where disciples have their eyes and hopes set on the higher, more prominent places on the ladder of success.
Peter, who reminds Jesus of the sacrifices the disciples have made, giving up all to follow Him, questions the reward they shall have for this work. Kings and rulers typically reward their closest associates and supporters with well-placed positions and honor.
Honor and prestige is not to be the goal of working for God. That may come, Jesus said, but the least of these shall many times be first, and the sure-fire prize winner shall be the last. The humble, the ones willing to be a servant to all, and not the seekers for the grand and glorious, shall be most precious in the Kingdom of God.
Jesus follows by teaching the Parable of the Laborers in the vineyard (Mt. 20) and concludes by again sharing that the last shall be first; "Many are called, but few chosen."
Sometimes it is better to be a cherry tomato rather than a Big Boy.
July 9, 2006

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

* Let Go
* Scripture: Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." Matthew 19:21-22, NKJV

We are counseled, (and probably have counseled) to “Let go, and let God.” It’s hard, very hard in practice. It’s just not in our common nature to let go of things, including problems that God could handle for us. We refuse to change our habits, even if our well-being is at stake. Something has to grab us, and shake us, until reality sets in.
Since we search for examples to inspire us, I thought maybe this fable from India, “The Farmer and the Money Lender,” might give you something to think about.
The story concerns a poor farmer, who, having lost everything to a money lender, sought the secret to becoming rich. He set out on his quest with three griddlecakes to last him on his journey. A Brahman and a Yogi accepted his offering of a griddlecake, and gave nothing in return. (Compare to the religious men in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:31-32.)
He shared his last cake with a poor man, who gave him a magic conch shell in response to his kindness, with the secret of how to use it to have wishes filled.
The money lender quickly surmised that the farmer’s good fortune was related to the conch shell, so he stole it. He had the shell, but found he lacked the secret of how to blow the horn to gain his wishes. If the money lender kept it, neither would benefit, so he offered the farmer a deal; he would return the magic shell to the farmer, with the agreement that whatever the farmer got from it, the money lender would get double. This arrangement went on for a time, and it preyed upon the farmer’s mind that the money lender always got double. Then, during a very dry season, the farmer wished for a water well, and, lo! there was the well - but the money lender had two new water wells! The farmer brooded and brooded over this, until he had an idea. He blew the conch shell, and wished to be blind in one eye. In a twinkling, the money lender was blind in both of his eyes, and in trying to steer his way between the two wells, fell into one and was drowned. So that is how the farmer got the better of the money lender - but only by losing one of his eyes.
Jesus reminds us that we have to give up some things in order to gain other things, more important things, like eternal life. He also counseled,”If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) Since we are prone to never let go of one thing until we have a firm grip on something else (which may be good advice for daredevil wing walkers) we cling to what we have, rather than let go and step out in faith for the heavenly walk.
This week, think about what you would be willing to give up to assure eternal life.
March 13, 2005

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: “Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 , NIV

We have much to be thankful for. Even though we encounter adversity, we still have much to be thankful for. Above all things, God’s love endures forever!
The Psalms are filled with praises to the LORD, often given in remembrance of past mercies, such as Psalms 105:5; “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles and the judgments he pronounced.“
We especially need to avoid the snare of “NOW,” wherein we are tempted to say, “What have you done for me lately? I want it now!” Remember, we are in this life for the long haul. Every story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
We are often advised to not read ahead in the story to look at the ending. “Don’t spoil the story,” we are told. “Don’t tell the outcome, don’t reveal the plot; you will ruin it.” Well, that may be true of mystery and adventure novels, but that is not what life is about. Look at the ending, the goal.
Many endeavors require planning, goal setting, and methodology. Life is one of them. Any business owner would be quite foolish to say, “I’m just going to buy and sell; I’ll just go with the flow.” Product and procedures are important, and not only goals, but also reviews to discern the results of the program are very necessary.
Consider the example of going on a trip. Not just a meandering trip, following the will ‘o the wisp, but a journey to a specific destination. Out come the maps, and an agenda is developed. Routes are chosen, known obstacles are detoured, contingency plans are developed.
Ahh, contingency plans! So often forgotten in the rush of things, the excitement of the good times. What happens when things turn sour? To quote from the song, “My Favorite Things,”(The Sound of Music) “when the dog bites, when the bee stings,” we need to remember the good times, the favorite things. Let the LORD be your contingency plan. Remember all that He has done.
It is easy to fall into the pit of despondency, to soak in sorrow. Look up, instead of down. Look up to the LORD. Look to His promise of what is to come. Think of the end of the journey.
What traveler will say, “Flat tire ends the trip! I’m just going to sit here and sulk all day, and maybe tomorrow, too!”
No, you fix that flat, you get back on the road. You proceed to your goal, your destination.
God has promised us the greatest destination ever! Focus on it. Whatever else happens along the way is a piffling trifle. Cast it aside, and say with Paul, “Giv(e) thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Col 1:12, NIV
November 23, 2003

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Paul wrote, “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” NIV
We all know the meaning of the word “charitable” . . . sort of. Kind and generous in giving help to those in need. (Webster’s New World Dictionary). Even my 1927 dictionary agrees. Both dictionaries also agree that our modern word charity comes from the Old French word charite; the French got it from the Latin word caritas, meaning dearness, love, or loving. Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians affirms this meaning in the King James Version: Charity is used wherever the word is translated love in other versions.
Interesting! In the original Greek, the word is agape, one of four words the Greeks used that we translate “love.” But “A-hah! The first definition given for charity is Christian love! Love for one’s fellow-men.
So why do the newer Bible translations say love instead of charity, as used in the King James text? Possibly because we have moved way down in the list of meanings to emphasize giving rather than supplying in love.
Suppose two people put ten dollar bills in the offering plate at church. One is a person whose income is well above the typical average. The other is a widow on a pension, shall we say about $600 a month for all her expenses. She does so because she has a love for the work of the church. The other gives because everyone is expected to put something in the collection plate. Jesus used much this same example in Luke 21:1-4. The people gave gifts (my italics) out of their wealth.
The Bible does not condemn wealth in and of itself. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil. The striving, the hoarding, the conniving to obtain and keep it. The love of power having money can bring. The rich farmer was not condemned for building barns to hold his harvest. Rather, it was the self-centered joy of wallowing in his own excess. Charity did not enter into his plans for the use of God’s Charity!
Think about it! God didn’t just give us the gift of His Son. He personifies charity - He so LOVED the world . . .
January 14, 2001